"I hope you die tonight."

[InternalDialogue]

Yesterday afternoon, walking home from errands back to my downtown neighborhood. I left the library, passed the 4.20 celebration at Civic Center Park, and was moving up toward the avenue I take into my neighborhood.

Against a bank wall, sitting on a planter was a middle-aged woman in a heavy wool coat and head scarf. Her hands were wrapped in bandannas (or maybe bandages). Despite the warm sun, she was sitting back in a much cooler shaded area, apparently keeping to herself.

As I neared her, I caught her eye and smiled a little "hi" to her. She spoke up, "Do you have any bills you can spare?"

I answered honestly, "I don't have anything to give you right now. Sorry." And I smiled again and moved on.

As I walked away, I heard her again. At first it sounded like she was going to say, "Thank you, God bless," or something like that.

But clear as day, and in the same nice voice, she said, "Okay, I hope you die tonight."

I probably walked another three or four steps before it sunk in, and it kind of chilled me -- that's how horror movies start. I decided against going back to ask her why she'd wish death on me, but I made damn sure to walk carefully the last mile home.

Good news: I lived until today. I'm considering walking back that way in the next day or two to let her know the friendly but deadly curse she placed on me didn't work.

[Shell Beau]

1. Yikes!! Glad her wish didn't come true!

[lizziegrace]

2. !!!

:wow:


Glad you're still with us. :hug:

[CreekDog]

3. you should have told her:

"either way, i'll still be warmer than you."

=====

because some things must not be left unanswered. :hide:

[hedgehog]

4. Best not to interact with someone whio is already hostile!

[madinmaryland]

10. She might not have been a she. You never know.

:hide:

[InternalDialogue]

13. "Old woman, there!"

"Man!"

[redqueen]

5. At least she didn't chase you screaming at the top of her lungs...

small comfort I know... :hug:

[InternalDialogue]

6. I kind of wondered what I'd hear had I gone back to confront her.

I get the feeling it could have gone either way.

[Jamastiene]

7. Geez, even as antisocial and misanthropic as I am,

even I wouldn't say that to somebody. :wow:

[jobycom]

8. Maybe it was her own little experiment to see if anyone even noticed her.

Like the people who say "Fuck you very much" on the phone, she wondered if you would even here her.

And maybe part of you did die, just a little, as her comment changed part of you... Oh never mind, I read too damn much eastern philosophy in college. :rofl:

[InternalDialogue]

9. She was smiling the whole time I talked to her.

I sort of wondered the same thing. "Did she just say that?" I should at least let her know it didn't slip by.

Gotta go back by there and see if she's still around, wishing death upon people.

Maybe I'll sit down next to her and wish some death myself, just to see if she gets all territorial about who wishes death upon whom in her area.

[MrScorpio]

11. I'd show her the moth that lives in my wallet

And the lint that resides in my pants pockets


That's all I can say about that

[pitohui]

12. this must be the new mind fuck, as i recently heard this one too

yeah, friends and neighbors, there are evil homeless or those posing to be homeless, just as there are the evil rich

my response is not to give any response, and if you are worried about the old witch's curse, a simple prayer from your own belief system will turn it aside

for christians i would bring to mind psalm 23, for those of us of a more pagan/heathen/atheistic bent, then "i take that out of the law" or a visualization of white light seems to work just as well

her evil eye and evil wishes shall not touch you

do not reward those who exploit fear and emotion to get your wallet

on edit -- certainly do not get involved in ill-wishing yourself